Apparatus for developing a photographically printed paper strip



A. A. BARBER June 28, 1955 APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING A PHOTOGRAPHICALLY PRINTED PAPER STRIP z Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1952' JNVENTOR. J g 7722 0 14.540150 ammwmur 23.54% is zmme4m mo 0 25 June 28, 1955 A. A. BARBER APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING A PHOTOGRAPHICALLY PRINTED PAPER STRIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22. 1952 PEER PETE INVENTOR. ,Bazfler,

United States Patent: 0

APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING A PHOTO- GRAPHPRCALLY PRINTED PAPER STRIP Anthony A. Barber, Meshanic, N. J.

Application Eanuary 22, 1952, Serial No. 267,642

2 Claims. (Cl. 95=--94) This invention relates to the art of developing photographic prints, and has particular reference to a continuous process of developing, fixing and washing a moving strip or run of sensitized photographic paper upon which a succession of positive photographs have been printed from a series of negatives.

In the commercial printing of photographs, apparatus is known to the art through which a long strip or run of photographic paper, upon which a succession of positives have been printed from a series of negatives, can be continuously moved so as to successively develop, fix and wash the prints automatically; whereafter the strip or run is dried, and the separate prints are cut away therefrom and sorted for delivery to the customer. By reason of its continuous action, such automatic developing apparatus effects substantial economies in commercial printing operations, by saving time, handling and labor. Notwithstanding the economies effected by such automatic developing apparatus, such economies are attained at the expense of quality of the product, since the developing action cannot be regulated or controlled to accommodate it to the specific requirements of individual prints. Not only is the quality of the product relatively poor as compared with hand developed prints, but it often occurs that a considerable percentage of prints are so poor as to necessitate reprinting and redeveloping, thus reducing to an appreciable extent the advantage and economy of the wholly automatic developing process which the apparatus is intended to attain.

Having the above observations in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide a semi-automatic and yet continuous process of developing a printed strip or run of photographic paper, whereby said strip or run, after leaving a developing tank, is subject to inspection by an attendant without necessity for interrupting its motion and before it passes into and through fixing and washing tanks, whereby each individual print and part thereof can be examined and forthwith treated by said attendant by hand to increase or retard development action with respect thereto, as may in any given case be required, thus attaining a high quality of product, and avoiding loss of prints necessitating reprinting and redevelopment thereof.

The invention also has for an object to provide novel apparatus adapted for use in practicing the above stated semi-automatic but continuous photographic print strip developing process.

The above and other objects of this invention will be understood from a reading of the following detailed description thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a continuous print strip developing apparatus in connection with which the semi-automatic developing method according to this invention can be practiced; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, drawn on an enlarged scale, showing the station at which a moving print strip emerging from a developing tank can be examined and treated in accordance with the method of this invention.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a suitable framework 10 which confines a series of longitudinally aligned tanks which respectively contain the various liquid baths appropriate to the successive automatically performed steps of the print strip developing process. The series of tanks comprises, in successive order from starting to finishing end of the apparatus, a developing solution tank D located at the strip receiving end of the apparatus; a stop solution tank S; one or more fixing solution tanks F; and one or more wash water tanks W located at the finishing end of the apparatus. The developing solution tank D and the stop solution tank S are spaced apart at a substantial distance, whereby to locate therebetween a print strip inspection and treating station hereinafter to be described.

A supporting bed for the print strip propelling and guiding means comprises a pair of parallel side members 11 which are supported by the framework 10 to extend longitudinally adjacent to and above the open tops of the tanks. The print strip propelling and guiding means comprises a series of transverse rollers, the shafts 12 of which are journaled in and between said side members 11. Said rollers are disposed relative to the open tops of the respective tanks whereby to guide a print strip 20, as propelled through the apparatus, into and out of successive tanks. Said rollers comprise driven rollers 13 by which the print strip 20 is propelled, and intermediate idler rollers 14. The driven rollers 13 can be driven by any suitable power transmission means, an illustrative form of which, as shown, comprises a power driven shaft 15 which is journaled in bearings 16 to extend along the outer face of one of the side members 11, upon which shaft are fixed driving worms 17 which drive worm gears 18 with which the shafts 12 of the driven rollers 13 are provided. The moving print strip 29 is guided for immersed travel through the content of the respective tanks by being looped around submerged guide rollers 21 which are supported within the respective tanks by suspension frames 22 dependent from the side members 11.

At the receiving end of the developing apparatus, the side members 11 project outwardly beyond the developing solution tank D to provide supporting brackets 23 having upwardly open bearing notches 24 to receive and journal the shaft or trunnions 25 of a print strip feed reel 26, upon which the print strip 2% to be developed is wound during the process of printing the same.

At the discharge end of the developing apparatus, the side members 11 similarly project outwardly beyond the wash water tanks W to provide supporting brackets 27 to receive and journal the driving shaft 28 of a print strip take-up reel 29, upon which the developed print strip 20 is wound as it discharges from the apparatus. Said take-up reel 29 is frictionally clutched to its driving shaft 23, and the latter is driven by a worm 3% on the drive shaft 15 which meshes with a worm gear 31 with which the driving shaft 28 of the take-up reel 29 is pro vided.

Traversing the inspection and treating station, intermediate the developing solution tank D and the stop solution tank S, is means to support the run of print strip 2% moving from said developing solution tank to said stop solution tank. Said supporting means may comprise any suitable form of structure which is adapted to provide a flat horizontal surface to underlie and support the length of print strip moving between the aforesaid tanks. Preferably, however, the supporting means comprises an endless conveyer belt 32 supported by carrier rollers 33, the shafts 34 of which are journaled in and between the side members 11 of the apparatus.

One said carrier roller 33 is driven from the drive shaft by a worm 35 which drives a worm gear 36 with which the shaft 34 of this roller is provided. The conveyer belt 32 may be otherwise driven, but, however driven, at a speed corresponding to the speed at which the print strip 213 is propelled through the developing apparatus.

Located adjacent to the conveyer belt 32, at the back or off side of the apparatus, is a suitably supported table, shelf or platform 37 upon which is supported an open vessel or container 38 adapted to contain a hot demay, if desired, be associated with the vessel or container 39 adapted to contain a cold developer stop solution.

lectrical or other suitable form of heating means 49 may, if desired, be associated with the vessel or container 33, whereby to maintain the developer solution content thereof at a desired elevated temperature. Similarly, a suitable cooling means 4i may, if desired, be associated with the vessel or container 39, whereby to keep cool the developer stop solution content thereof.

In the performance of the semi-automatic but continuous process of developing a running print strip according to this invention and by aid of apparatus sub stantially characterized as above described, the print strip is caused to move at a predetermined speed through said apparatus. As the undeveloped print strip 213 draws oil from the feed roll 26, it passes into and through the developing solution tank D, so that the developer solution contained therein is permitted to effect its developing action upon the successive photographic prints P which have been printed thereon. As the print strip 2ft emerges from the developing solution tank D, it moves onto and advances along the horizontal support, which is preferably provided by the conveyer belt 32 that moves therewith, so that each developed print P is exposed for inspection by an attendant stationed at the location of the support or conveyer belt. If the inspection indicates to the attendant that a given print P is underdeveloped in whole or in part, then the attendant can immediately treat said print P by hand to cure the deficiency. This is done by use of a suitable applicator, such as a sponge 42, which the attendant dips into the hot developer solution contained in the vessel or container 32, and then by wiping the print P, or such part thereof as requires the treatment, with the satu rated applicator, applies the hot developer solution thereto, whereby to further develop the print, and thus assure desired high quality thereof. On the other hand, if the inspection indicates to the attendant that a given print tends to over-development in whole or in part, then the attendant can treat said print by hand to immediately arrest or stop developing action. This is likewise done by dipping anoher applicator or sponge into the cold developer stop solution contained in the vessel or container 39, and by wiping the print P, or such part thereof as requires treatment, with this saturated applicator, thereby applying to the print the developer stop solution so as to arres developing action, and thus to obtain a finished print of desired high quality.

Since a substantial length of print strip 20 is exposed by the conveyer supported run thereof which moves from the developing solution tank D to the stop solution tank S, the hand treating operations above described can be performed upon the moving print strip 20 without necessity for interrupting or in any way interfering with its continuous movement through the apparatus, and since the speed of movement of the print strip is moderate, the attendant has ample time to inspect each print P a sit passes through the inspection station, and thereupon to treat by hand such prints as may require treatment.

As the hand treated print strip 26 leaves the inspection and treating station it is discharged from the conveyer belt 32 or other support directly into the stop solution tank S for continued movement therehorugh, whereby to be subjected to the action of developer stop solution contained in said tank, so that all developing action upon the treated prints P is finally stopped. From the stop solution tank S, the continuously moving print strip 2% passes successively through the fixing solution tank or tanks F, and thence through the wash water tank or tanks W. Emerging from the latter tanks, the now developed print strip passes to the take-up reel 29 upon which it is Wound. After the developed print strip is fully wound upon the take-up reel 29, said reel is removed and the developed print is withdrawn therefrom and dried, whereupon the individual photographic prints are severed from the strip, and sorted ready for delivery to the customer.

From the above it will now be understood that the instant invention not only provides a novel and efiicient semi-automatic but continuous process for developing photographically printed strips, which includes hand treatment of individual prints whereby to assure high quality thereof, but also the invention provides novel apparatus in aid of the practice of said novel developing process.

Having now described my invention, 1 claim:

1. Apparatus for developing a continuously moving photographically printed paper strip comprising an upstanding developing tank, a group of successive tanks containing various baths for completing the developing process, said latter group of tanks being aligned with but spaced beyond and apart from said developing tank, a substantially horizontally disposed strip supporting endless conveyor belt extending between the discharge side of the developing tank and the receiving side of said group of tanks substantially at the level of the open tops thereof, means for propelling the strip in continuous movement through the developing tank and thence by said conveyor belt to and through said group of tanks, and means for driving said conveyor belt at a speed synchronous with the speed of the moving strip, whereby the prints on the strip advancing with said conveyor belt are subject to inspection by an attendant accompanied by hand application by said attendant to selected areas of individual prints of additional developer solution or developer stop solution as inspection of said prints may be indicated to be required.

2. Apparatus for developing a continuously moving photographically printed paper strip comprising an upstanding developing tank, a group of successive tanks containing various baths for completing the developing process, said latter group of tanks being aligned with but spaced beyond and apart from said developing tank, means for propelling the strip in continuous movement through the developing tank and thence to and through said group of tanks, said means comprising strip advancing rollers including a discharge roller cooperative with the top of said developing tank and a receiving roller cooperative with the top of said group of tanks, a substantially horizontally disposed strip supporting endless conveyor belt extending intermediate said discharge roller of the developing tank and the receiving roller of the group of tanks, rollers for supporting said conveyor belt, and means cooperative with at least one said conveyor belt supporting rollers for driving said conveyor belt at a speed synchronous with the speed of the moving strip, whereby the prints on the strip advancing with said conveyor belt are subject to inspection by an attendant accompanied by hand application by said attendant to selected areas of individual prints or" additional developer solution or developer stop solution as inspection of said prints may indicate to be required.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 830,741 Prentiss Sept. 11, 1906 1,169,096 Thornton Jan. 18, 1916 1,444,329 Capstatf et al. Feb. 6, 1923 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS De Moos Sept. 4, 1923 Capstaff Nov. 10, 1925 Dye Apr. 12, 1927 Debrie May 2, 1933 Dreyer Sept. 22, 1936 Houston July 29, 1941 Goetz et a1. Feb. 13, 1951 6 FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 10, 1926 OTHER REFERENCES Clerc: Photography, Theory and Practice, Pitman, N. Y., 2nd ed., 1937, page 367 (paragraph 566).

Henney et al.: Handbook of Photography, published by Whittlesey House, N. Y., 1939, page 358. 

1. APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING A CONTINUOUSLY MOVING PHOTOGRAPHICALLY PRINTED PAPER STRIP COMPRISING AN UPSTANDING DEVELOPING TANK, A GROUP SUCCESSIVE TANKS CONTAINING VARIOUS BATHS FOR COMPRISING THE DEVELOPING PROCESS, SAID LATTER GROUP OF TANKS BEING ALIGNED WITH BUT SPACED BEYOND AND APART FROM SAID DEVELOPING TANK, A SUBSTANTLALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED STRIP SUPPORTING ENDLESS CONVEYOR BELT EXTENDING BETWEEN THE DISCHARGE SIDE OF THE DEVELOPING TANK AND THE RECEIVING SIDE OF SAID GROUP OF TANKS SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE LEVEL OF THE OPEN TOPS THEREOF, MEANS FOR PROPELLING THE STRIP IN CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT THROUGH THE DEVELOPING TANK AND THENCE BY SAID CONVEYOR BELT TO AND THROUGH SAID GROUP OF TANKS, AND MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID CONVEYOR BELT AT A SPEED SYNCHRONOUS WITH THE SPEED OF THE MOVING STRIP, WHEREBY THE PRINTS ON THE STRIP ADVANCING WITH SAID CONVEYOR BELT ARE SUBJECT TO INSPECTION BY AN ATTENDANT ACCOMPANIED BY HAND APPLICATION BY SAID ATTENDANT TO SELECT AREAS OF INDIVIDUAL PRINTS OF ADDITIONAL DEVELOPER SOLUTION OR DEVELOPER STOP SOLUTION AS INSPECTION OF SAID PRINTS MAY BE INDICATED TO BE REQUIRED. 